Clasp for necklaces, bracelets, and the like



April 18, 1944, E F. WINKLER 12,346,887? I E CLASP FOR NECKLACES, BRACELETS, AND THE LIKE Filed 001;. 22, 1943 Wit/ 1 1 n, E

I M/wmm Patented Apr. 18, 1944 CLASP FOR NECKLACES, BRACELETS, AND THE LIKE Friedrich Winkler, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Application October 22, 1943, Serial No. 507,261 In Canada September 19, 1942 8 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in clasps for necklaces, bracelets and like articles, and has for its primary object the provision of a separable device which will lock securely and which is adapted to be mouldably formed of a plastic material.

A still further object of the invention is to produce a simple and eflicient clasp composed of two interlocking parts so arranged that one fits into the other with a locking effect which precludes any likelihood of their becoming inadvertently disengaged in the ordinary use of the clasp as in a necklace or bracelet.

A distinctive feature of the invention is that the clasp can be manufactured of a thermoplastic material by means of injection moulds which are well known in the art. This clasp is inexpensive to manufacture and is of sturdy construction.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a practical embodiment of the invention in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the clasp sho'wing the two parts in their interlocked relation.

Fig-2 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a further sectional elevation but showing the manner in which the male member is inserted in the female member.

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional elevation but depicting more clearly the manner in which the parts interlock.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the female member, and

Fig. 6 is a like view of the male member.

Like numerals of reference denote similar parts in each figure of the drawing.

Desirably each of the two members composing the clasp is a substantially fiat rectangular piece mouldably formed of a suitable material such as thermo-plastic.

The female member I 0 is fashioned with a rectangular cavity ll extending inwardly of its upper face H to accommodate a tongue It provided on the male member M. The cavity is defined by the side walls IS, the front wall l6 and the rear wall ET. The bottom wall l8 of the cavity is cut away as at l9 adjacent to the front wall IE to provide an aperture for upward insertion of the male part so that the tongue thereof may be thus seated in the cavity and rest upon the bottom wall, i which position the top face is flush with the face I2.

The front wall 16 is reduced in cross-section to compose a bit or looking bar with an upward curved outer face 20 extending from the inner abrupt face 2|. The bit or looking bar is of a depth substantially less than the thickness of the female member, and the male member is fashioned with a head portion 22 which extends into and forwardly of the aperture 19. Said head portion is slotted, as at 23, transversely, inwardly of its upper face receptive to said bit or locking bar. Slot 23 is curved upwardly and forwardly from an abrupt inner face 2% which engages the face 2| of the bit or looking bar. The curved portion of said slot is sloped away from the curved (face of the bit or locking bar in order to provide necessary clearance for assembly of said members.

The head portion 22 has a forward continuation in the nature of a lug 25 for attachment to an end, indicated at 26, of a stand or equivalent element of a necklace or bracelet. Likewise, the rear wall I! of the female member has a lug 2i for attachment to the other end, indicated at 28, of the strand or its equivalent. The lugs may be pierced forattachment of the ends 26 and 28, as is customary in clasps of this class. The lugs may also be of any shape or ornamental configuration, and be designed for attachment to single or multiple strands.

To unite the interlocking members it is only necessary to insert the male part upwardly in the aperture IQ of its companion sufiiciently to cause the slot 23 to engage the bit IS, and then swing the male part downwardly about the bit until the tongue is properly mounted in the cav-' ity. It is preferable that the face 24 of the tongue and the face 29 of the cavity be sloped inwardly on a slight angle of about four or five degrees and that the end face of the tongue be sloped on a similar angle, but outwardly, so that the tongue will seat itself in the cavity with a snap action under. moderate pressure, and thereby assure of a secure interlocking of theparts.

The device is simple to operate and provides a secure locking juncture; moreover it may be manufactured by dies from a thermo-plastio material.

front wall being reduced to form a bit or locking bar; the male member having a head portion formed with a transverse slot extending inwardly of its upper face and a tongue extending therefrom, said male member adapted to be inserted upwardly in the aforesaid aperture and then turned downwardly to cause the slot to engage the aforesaid bit or locking bar and the tongue to seat itself in the aforesaid cavity, whereby interlocking engagement of the members is effected.

2. A clasp as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that the marginal walls of the female member which define the cavity have substantially vertical inner faces for engagement with mating marginal faces of the tongue.

3. A clasp as set forth in claim 1 and in which the cavity and the tongue have co-acting and faces arranged to cause the tongue to seat itself in the cavity with a snap action under moderate pressure.

4. A clasp as set forth in claim 1 characterized in that the bit or locking bar has an abrupt inner face for contact with an inwardly sloping face forming a part of the slot in the male member, and in which the cavity has an opposing face sloped inwardly to engage a correspondingly sloped face at the rear end of the tongue so as 6. A clasp as set forth in claim 1 and in which the bit or locking bar has an abrupt inner face and an upwardly curved outer face, and in which the slot of the male member is outwardly curved away from the curved face of the bit or locking bar to afford clearance suflicient for the head portion to turn for seating the tongue in the cavity.

7. A clasp as set forth in claim 1 and in which the head portion of the male member is continued beyond the bit or iocking'bar to form an attachment lug.

8. A clasp as defined in claim 1 and in which the opposite ends of the members are supplied with means for connection to a strand or equivalent element of a necklace or bracelet.

FRIEDRICH WINKLER. 

